Day 20: Making a change

Fr. Hector gave me advice today regarding improvement of our spiritual lives.  He said that it's not really possible, even with good intentions, to immediately change habits.  His smoking habit, for instance, was hard to break.  When he finally turned it over to God after manmade "cures" didn't help, he was able to give it up, but it wasn't easy.  He approached it one day at a time, telling God that "just for today" he would not smoke.  Gradually, his need to smoke decreased, and now it's not even a passing thought in his mind.  But the point was that he had to focus only on the present day and not look ahead.  How easy it is for me to become overwhelmed when looking at my life as a whole!  I feel as though I've failed before I've even begun because the road before me stretches farther than I can see.  But, just for today, Lord, I will live for You!

This idea of course is reminiscent of the verse from Matthew -- Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself -- but it also reminds me of this "Decalogue for Daily Living":

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once. 
2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself. 
3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one. 
4. Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes. 
5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul. 
6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it. 
7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and it my feelings are hurt, I will make sure no one notices. 
8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision. 
9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world. 
10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness.
Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life. Bl. Pope John XXIII  


What a beautiful prayer if said meaningfully every day.  Which reminds me, Fr. Lou challenged me to pray the Litany of Humility each day.  Maybe these are to be my Lenten prayers.